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In The News: Sales Tax

Jul 28 2016

By Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe

“There are certainly some signs that things are slowing down,” said Eileen McAnneny, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. “The sales tax is the second-largest source of tax revenue for the Commonwealth. If it’s going down, we need to be paying careful attention to that.”

Sep 16 2015

By Will Flanagan, ChicagoInno

While Cardarella's group was representing the collective outrage of the tech community, business organizations like the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF) and the Massachusetts High Technology Council were fighting on behalf of the effort. For the MTF, former president Michael Widmer was an early, vocal opponent of the tech tax.

Jul 28 2015

By Shira Schoenberg, MassLive

But budgetary watchdogs take a different perspective. Eileen McAnneny, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said she understands the impulse to help retailers. But, she said, "From a budget standpoint, it's harder to justify." McAnneny argued that the sales generated by the tax holiday would have happened anyway, just at a different time.

Jul 27 2015

By Joshua Miller, The Boston Globe

Eileen McAnneny, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said from a budgetary standpoint the sales tax holiday “is getting increasingly more difficult to justify, given the [state’s] structural deficit” and funding levels remaining essentially static for most parts of state government.

Aug 31 2014

By Gerry Tuoti and Marc Larocque, Taunton Daily Gazette

Carolyn Ryan, assistant director of policy and research at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said that while local meals tax revenue typically makes up a small percentage of local budgets, it can be important.

Aug 11 2014

By Gerry Tuoti, Norwood transcript

Carolyn Ryan, assistant director of policy and research at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said that while local meals tax revenue typically makes up a small percentage of local budgets, it can be important.

Aug 11 2014

By Gerry Tuoti, MetroWest Daily News

Carolyn Ryan, assistant director of policy and research at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said that while local meals tax revenue typically makes up a small percentage of local budgets, it can be useful. "It has been an important factor in recession and recovery when it filled in cuts to state aid," she said. "And if a city or town is bumping against property tax limits, it’s an important source of additional revenue to them."

Aug 5 2014

By Ed Donga, The Enterprise

Carolyn Ryan, assistant director of policy and research at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said that while local meals tax revenue typically makes up a small percentage of local budgets, it can still be important. “It has been an important factor in the recession and recovery when it filled in cuts to state aid,” she said. “And if a city or town is bumping against property tax limits, it’s an important source of additional revenue to them.”

Aug 3 2014

By Alli Knothe, Telegram & Gazette

"The impact on the budget is really marginal at best," said Andrew Bagley, director of research and public affairs for the Boston-based Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. He said it is difficult to argue against something viewed favorably by both businesses and consumers.

May 28 2014

By Shira Schoenberg, The Republican

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said he does not think this year will be any different. "They do it every year. I'd be very surprised if it doesn't come to pass," Widmer said.